‘Hi Barbie!’ Five women-led Canadian brands collab on new Barbie Through the Decades fashion, beauty collection
Fashion20.08.2024
From bold patterns and bright colours to the iconic Barbie pink lip, Barbie brand fans can now rock some of their favourite looks thanks to a new collaboration released by Mattel.
In celebration of Barbie’s 65th anniversary, Mattel has unveiled Barbie Through the Decades, a fashion and beauty line featuring eight cohesive looks and over 100 products inspired by iconic Barbie dolls over the past six decades.
“We are celebrating the Barbie brand’s 65-year-long legacy as the brand continues to remain both a fashion icon and a symbol of empowerment, showing fans that you can be anything,” said Jennifer Gileno, head of licensing and retail development, Mattel Canada. “Today, this collection serves as a reminder of the impact we can make when we come together, as we celebrate an industry first and continue to break barriers within the fashion and beauty industries.”
Looks featured include the 1959 Barbie, 1960s Twist ‘N Turn, 1970s Superstar, 1980s Black Barbie, 1980s Totally Crystal Barbie, and 1990s Totally Hair Barbie.
The line includes clothing, jewellery, makeup, and accessories, all designed in collaboration with five Canadian women-led companies:
Hilary MacMillan
Based in Toronto, Hilary MacMillan is a fashion-forward lifestyle brand known for its bold, trendsetting, statement-making pieces. Their product line includes outerwear, home, lounge, and accessories.
ai
ai is a sustainable fashion brand that expertly designs luxury vegan handbags and accessories that are ethically produced in Seoul, South Korea. A mother-and-daughters team, this Toronto brand believes in the attainability of sustainable luxury.
Paris Jewellers Canada
Paris Jewellers is an immigrant, family, and sister-owned jewellery brand with 22 stores across four provinces in Canada. With its head office in Alberta, sisters Chau and Trang are carrying on the legacy their mother started over 30 years ago.
Cheekbone Beauty
Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned and founded cosmetics company. Creating high-quality, cruelty-free beauty products such as lip and complexion products, Cheekbone Beauty aims to help every Indigenous person see and feel their enormous value in the world while creating effective, sustainable cosmetics.
Sol Kyst
Sol Kyst offers a size-inclusive range of mini, midi, and wide eyewear styles for all face shapes and sizes. Drawing on owner Meghan’s expertise as a professional makeup artist, Sol Kyst focuses on intentional design to enhance one’s natural features.
Inclusive fashion
For the campaign, each brand worked together to create an inclusive line of products featuring sizes XS-4X, adjustable straps and frame sizing, as well as expanded ring sizes.
“When women support women, we all succeed,” said Hilary MacMillan, founder and designer of Hilary MacMillan. “I’m so proud to be part of a strong group of women founders who continuously inspire me, and coming together to bring our strengths to the creative table to create these looks in partnership with Barbie has been such a rewarding experience.”
The collection officially launched on August 15 and can be purchased through any of the participating brands’ websites.
In collaborating with various women-led companies, Mattel said it is further cementing the brand’s ethos and messaging behind Barbie. In what is historically a highly competitive industry, this collection speaks to the beauty of working together across once-competitive brands to champion women’s empowerment in an effort to uplift and rise together.
“Barbie teaches us we can grow up to be anything we want!” said Meghan Victoria, founder & CEO of Sol Kyst. “It’s so special that this collaboration shines a light on Canadian women entrepreneurs paving our own path and now coming together to honour Barbie’s 65th anniversary! How iconic!”
